Anyone who plays 1 e4 as White must be prepared not only for Blacks main defences but also an assortment of less popular lines. These, when taken together, represent a significant percentage of the replies you can expect to meet when opening 1 e4.

This is a new series which provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn.

The Benko Gambit is undoubtedly one of Black's most dynamic openings. In return for his pawn investment Black gains long-term pressure, which is often so powerful it continues right through into the endgame. White must decide whether to grab the pawn and try to hold on, or to choose a more aggressive approach. Either way, Black generally succeeds in his aim of unbalancing the position from a very early stage.

This is a new series which provides an ideal platform to study chess openings. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, Move by Move greatly encourages the learning and practicing of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of opening knowledge.

This book provides a repertoire for Black with the ever-popular "Queen's Gambit Declined". Opening expert John Cox covers not one but two key options for Black. The Tartakower Variation is a sophisticated defence used successfully by world champions such as Kasparov, Karpov and Kramnik.

The Old Indian Defence is considered to be a sound way for Black to meet 1 d4. Some might argue that it is steady rather than spectacular, but is this reputation totally deserved? Grandmaster Alexander Cherniaev strongly disagrees, and in this book he introduces ambitious and aggressive ways for Black to play in the main lines. He constructs an improved version of a repertoire he has himself utilized with great success against grandmaster opposition. Using illustrative games, he studies the fundamental tactical and positional ideas for both sides, and also covers what to do if White avoids the Old Indian.

This will prove ideal for players who like to seize the initiative and cause problems for their opponents from the outset. Williams' recommendations in the French are based on his own repertoire which he has successfully employed at Grandmaster level.

Leading chess author Colin Crouch believes that the key to sustained chess improvement lies in the critical analysis and assessment of your own games. Each and every game you play provides a significant learning opportunity, and this opportunity should never be squandered.

Club players are unaware of the subtleties that exist in grandmaster chess. Grandmasters can analyse chess at a depth that is unfathomable to amateurs. Moreover, they have extensive knowledge of chess history and opening theory, as well extraordinary endgame technique and tactical vision. However, having reached such a high level can make it difficult to understand what is lacking in the mind of the amateur.

Former US Open Champion Timothy Taylor presents weapons for Black against the hugely popular Spanish Opening, with a repertoire based on the Modern Steinitz Defence. This has justifiably earned a reputation as an important alternative to the main lines, and it's easy to see its appeal. The Modern Steinitz can lead to razor-sharp positions, such as in the Siesta Variation, where one slip by either player could prove to be fatal. But a major attraction of the Modern Steinitz is its flexibility, and Black can also choose to play in a more positional manner.

The Sniper is a dynamic and universal opening weapon for Black which can be used against all mainline openings. Black's system of development with ...g6 and ...Bg7 initially allows White to occupy the centre but, in true hypermodern style, Black strikes back immediately with ...c5. The Sniper can lead to original or barely-known positions in which Black can strive for the initiative. It's also rich in move-order possibilities, with potential transpositions into Sicilian, King's Indian or Benko-type positions.

Former American Open Champion Cyrus Lakdawala presents a range of vicious weapons for White in a repertoire which is perfect for those who have little time for study, but enjoy taking opponents out of their comfort zones and causing them problems from the very beginning.

The King's Indian remains a hugely popular opening at all levels of chess - unsurprising given the attacking opportunities it offers. In many of the ultra-sharp main lines, both sides can fight for the initiative. White frequently wins the queenside battle but this often turns out to be a Pyrrhic victory as Black wins the war by checkmating on the kingside!

There's no escaping the fact: if you want to win chess games, you have to attack at some point. Many players are happy solving combinations in winning positions, when the hard work is already done, but the key to a successful attack undoubtedly comes much earlier. No-one can attack effectively if they haven't prepared properly, and yet planning in chess can be a difficult technique to master, even for experienced players.

Are you tired of playing the same old openings again and again? Perhaps it's time for a change: choose Dangerous Weapons and amaze your opponents with new and exciting opening ideas! In this book, three opening specialists get together to take a revolutionary look at the Caro-Kann. In doing so they take the road less travelled and concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations - selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colours.

ng's Indian remains a hugely popular opening - unsurprising given the attacking opportunities it offers. In many of the ultra-sharp main lines, White wins the queenside battle but this often turns out to be a Pyrrhic victory as Black wins the war by checkmating on the kingside! Black is hunting the enemy king and - in practical play - this gives him a psychological edge.

EBOOK - Play the Dutch An Opening Repertoire for Black Based on the Leningrad Variation

Catalog Code: E-B0311EM

There's no doubt that the Dutch Defence is one of Black's most enterprising answers to 1 d4. Black strives to unbalance the position by creating an asymmetrical pawn structure on the very first move, giving himself every opportunity to fight for the initiative from the outset. It's no surprise that the Dutch particularly appeals to ambitious players who relish a complicated battle.

Finding a suitable defence to 1 d4 isn't an easy task, especially if you don't have endless time available to study all the latest theoretical developments. If you choose fashionable openings, it's imperative to keep pace with modern theory if you want to succeed with Black.

Between 1984 and 1990 Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov contested five long matches for the World Championship. This fourth volume of the series 'Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess' concentrates on all the games played between the two from 1988 to the present day and features their fifth World Championship match played in New York and Lyon 1990.

It's no secret why the London System is such a popular opening, especially at club level. White's development plan is very easy to learn, and it can be employed against virtually any defence. What's more, depending on mood, style or opponent, White can choose either to attack directly or to instigate a more positional strategy. Many players admit they hate facing the London System, which is surely another good reason to play it!

In this book grandmaster Nigel Davies provides that direction. He examines the methods used by a number of players who were looking to improve their game, and how they went about achieving their goal. He has drawn heavily on the games and thoughts of players who have been his students over the years and experienced a clear improvement in their play.

Nigel Davies is a Grandmaster with more than 35 years of tournament experience. He is a highly regarded chess teacher and the author of many successful chess books.

Grandmaster John Emms presents a repertoire for White after 1 e4 e5, based on the Italian Game and the Bishop's Opening. The lines he recommends are built upon a sound yet aggressive system of development which can be deployed against virtually every Black defence.

Mistakes are often made in the early part of the game - at all levels of chess - but a key skill is to recognize these critical moments as they happen and to exploit them with maximum efficiency. This is a skill which Grandmaster Simon Williams addresses in this book. Using instructive and entertaining games in which one side wins quickly, he examines all the typical mistakes chess players make in the opening and early middlegame, how you should look to exploit them, and how to avoid falling into similar traps yourself.

The main reason why we lose at chess is no big secret: we all make unnecessary mistakes! But simply acknowledging this fact isn't enough to help us improve. The big question is, how can we eliminate these mistakes from our game, or at least keep them to an absolute minimum?

Former US Open Champion Timothy Taylor takes a contemporary look at one of Black's most ambitious counters to 1 e4, the Alekhine Defence. This is a sharp opening in which Black attacks from the very beginning, luring White's central pawns forward in the expectation of destroying them later on.

'Open Games' refer to a myriad of openings arising after the ever-popular 1 e4 e5: the Italian Game, the Scotch, The Two Knights Defence, the King's Gambit, the Evans Gambit, the Bishop's Opening, the Four Knights, the Petroff and much more besides.

The Reti is a popular opening at all levels of chess. The great advantage it possesses over other openings is that it's a thematic system which can be adopted against many different defences, and because of this it's a firm favourite amongst those who prefer the understanding of ideas over dry memorization of moves.

Both players are gunning for each other's kings. Whose attack will break through first? This is a typical scenario in chess games. In such tense battles where one slip can be fatal, often it's a case of 'who dares wins'. But it's not enough to throw your pieces up the board and hope for the best. To succeed you need to acquire sophisticated attacking and defensive skills. The good news is that they can easily be learned, remembered and put into practice.

EBOOK - The Modern Defense - Move by Move A Step-By-Step Guide to Brilliant Chess

Catalog Code: E-B0369EM

The Modern Defence is an ambitious, counter-attacking choice for Black which can be played against all mainline openings. In typical hypermodern style, Black allows White to occupy the centre and then undermines this centre by attacking it with pawns and pieces. In this book, Cyrus Lakdawala examines the key variations of the Modern Defence. He shares his experience and knowledge, presents a repertoire for Black and provides answers to all the key questions.

Some players seem to be naturally gifted at chess. Almost effortlessly they seem to know what to do in every position. They recognize the best squares for their pieces; they know whether to seize the initiative with a bold attack or play quietly; whether to trade pieces or avoid exchanges; how to exploit opponents' weaknesses while minimizing the effect of their own - they make it look all too easy!

Perhaps it's time for a change and here's the answer: choose Dangerous Weapons and amaze your opponents with new and exciting opening ideas! In this book, three renowned opening experts get together to take a revolutionary look at the Dutch Defense, one of Black's most ambitious answers to 1. d4. In doing so they take the road less traveled and concentrate on fresh or little-explored variations - selecting a wealth of 'dangerous' options for both colors.

In recent years the Scandinavian has been catapulted into the limelight, and it has now firmly established itself as an opening to be reckoned with. Why has it become popular? Because it's easy to play!

The Budapest Gambit is an ambitious and adventurous opening for Black, who offers a pawn as early as the second move in return for active and rapid development. It has always been a particular favorite at club level, where it still provides a surprise weapon, but it has also been utilized with success by top-class Grandmasters.

Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov are unquestionably the participants who featured in the greatest ever chess rivalry. Between 1984 and 1990 they contested five long matches for the World Championship. This 3rd volume of the 'Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess' series concentrates on the third and fourth matches in this sequence: London/Leningrad 1986 and Seville 1987. Both matches were tremendously exciting and hard fought and both produced chess of an extremely high level.

H.O. from ND writes, "Received my beautiful ebonized Winsor chess set today. It is awesome. A work of art I will treasure & play with. I can't wait to save up enough for my House of Staunton chess board."

Home of the World's Finest Chess Pieces, Chess Sets and Chess Boards

Welcome to the official website of House of Staunton, The House of Staunton has firmly established itself as the gold standard by which all chess pieces, chess sets and chess boards are judged. All of our luxury chess products, including our chess pieces, chess sets and chess boards, have been produced with the discerning chess collector in mind. We adhere to the highest quality standards and our master artisans handcraft our chess sets, chess pieces and chess boards out of such luxurious materials as Porcelain, Camel Bone, Genuine Ebony, Walnut Burl and fossilized 40,000 year-old Wooly Mammoth Ivory. We invite you to indulge yourself and discover what countless other Chess enthusiasts know - The House of Staunton offers the finest Chess pieces, chess sets and chess boards - bar none!

Why settle for less when you can own a legendary Chess Sets and Board from the House of Staunton!